Information

Takamatsu-based Shikoku Ferry, which operates the Uno-Takamatsu route, will make an end of nighttime operation from July 16, 2014.

Shimabara-based Shimabara Tetsudo will sell its ferry operation on the Shimabara (Gai-ko)-Omuta (Miike-ko) route to Nagasaki-based Yamasa Kaiun on April 1, 2015.

On April 1, 2015, Sakurajima Ferry's new ferry, Sakurajima Maru No.2 entered service on the Kagoshima-Sakurajima route. She is the second electric propulsion ship, "Super Eco Ship (SES)" following the Sakurajima Maru (2011).

Kyusho Ferry and Kumamoto Ferry, which operate ferries on the Shimabara-Kumamoto route, are out of service from April 16 to April 27, 2016, because the Kumamoto Ferry Terminal was damaged by the Kumamoto earthquake on April 14, 2016.

Kyusho Ferry and Kumamoto Ferry reassumed the ferry services between Kumamoto and Shimabara on April 22, 2016, after the Kumamoto Terminal was restored earlier than expected.

On June 17, 2016, Kokudokyushi Ferry's Yunagi (998gt) entered service on the Saganoseki-Misaki route. The New Hoyo 2 (699gt, 1993) was replaced.

In November 2016, Shikoku Kaihatsu Ferry (Orange Ferry) ordered two 15,000gt car ferries from I-S Shipbuilding. The two ferries are expected to enter service in summer of 2018.

On September 7, 2017, the Akebono Maru (about 2,700gt) , which is being built for Uwajima Unyu, took the water at Naikai Zosen Corporation Setoda shipyard. She is set to enter service on the Yawatahama-Usuki route in December 2017. The Sakura (2,334gt, 1997) will be replaced.

On December 18, 2017, Uwajima Unyu's Akebono Maru (about 2,700gt) started running on the Yawatahama-Usuki route.

Shikoku Kaihatsu Ferry (Orange Ferry)'s Orange Ehime will enter service on the Toyo-Osaka route on August 25, 2018. The Orange 8 will be replaced.

Nankai Ferry will launch a new car ferry at the end-of-the-financial-year of 2019 (by March 31, 2020). The new ship will be about 2,820gt/1,300dwt car ferry. Old "Ferry Tsurugi" will be replaced.

Soon after 8 a.m. on July 26, 2018, the Ishitegawa (699gt), a car ferry of Setonaikai Kisen, and the Daiei Maru No.10 (489gt), a cargo ship collided with each other off the coast of Kure City. 1 passenger and 1 crew on the ferry were injured.

At 2 p.m. on July 28, 2018, a ferry of Sakurajima Ferry hit a pier when she arrived at Sakurajima. 6 passengeres were slightly injured.

On September 12, 2018, Shikoku Kaihatsu Ferry announced that the Orange Osaka will enter service on the Toyo-Osaka route on December 6, 2018. The Orange 7 will be replanced.

From October 19, 2018, Sukumo Ferry Corp. will shut down route for the time being due to rapidly rising fuel costs.

Sukumo Ferry's New Ashizuri (999gt, 1985) was sequestrated by Kitakyushu-based Kotobuki Nenryo, a fuel supplier on July 5, 2018 because of a non-payment of about 20 million yen, a fuel bill.

On December 6, 2018, Shikoku Kaihatsu Ferry's Orange Osaka entered service on the Toyo (Saijo)-Osaka route,

On December 11, 2018, Kokudo Kyushi Ferry announced that it will build a new terminal building, which is due to open in December 2019, at the port of Saganoseki.

In December 2018, Hiroshima-based Setonaikai Kisen announced that it will launch a new 980gt cruise ferry on the Hiroshima-Kure-Matsuyama route in August 2019. Tokyo-based GK Design Group has designed her, and the construction will begin in January 2019 at Kanda Shipbuilding.

Shimabara-based Kyusho Ferry's new ropax, "Rainbow Kamome" (850gt, LOA: 60.5m、Beam: 15.5m）will enter service on the Shimabara-Kumamoto route on December 22, 2018. The cost of constructing the ferry is estimated to be around 1.5 billion yen. The "Ferry Aso" retired on November 29, 2018. The route (21km) will be operated by the "Rainbow Kamome" and the "Ferry Kumamoto."

Sanoyas Shipbuilding Corporation held a keel laying ceremony for the "Ferry I" (2,820gt) for Nankai Ferry at its Mizushima Shipyard on December 19, 2018.

On February 14, 2019, Matsuyama-based Ishizaki Kisen announced that two new car ferries (875gt, Pass: 300, Car; 35) will be built for its Matsuyama-Kure/Hiroshima route. Both ferries will be built at Naikai Zosen, and the first ship is set to enter service in October 2019, and the second ship in 2020 respectively.